WNBA 2026 Playoff Players To Watch

We build a no-nonsense WNBA playoff watch list by spotlighting the stars, breakout players, and defensive anchors who can decide a series. We also call out the pressure points that change everything fast, including injuries, first-time playoff roles, and the narratives that follow winners and losers.
• The top three stars we refuse to miss: A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart
• Angel Reese and the weight of championship expectations after a team change
• health and availability as a hidden playoff swing factor
• Kelsey Mitchell as the blueprint for high-volume efficient scoring
• Paige Bueckers and Olivia Miles as first-time playoff guards to track
• Caitlin Clark and what postseason results do to the “winner” conversation
• Shakira Austin and the Mystics youth movement under a brighter spotlight
• Leonie Fiebich and why Liberty perimeter defense matters
• Ryan Howard and Allishia Gray as a consistency test for the Dream
• Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones with legacy-level questions in front of them
• Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray as postseason tone-setters
• Aliyah Boston as the Fever’s two-way stabilizer
• Jessica Shepard and Arike Ogunbowale with stakes tied to playoff translation
• The Valkyries as a team-wide contender check

So please make sure to like, subscribe, comment, tell anyone who’s anyone. One, about the WNBA, because the playoffs are coming up late September. And two, about my show.

Transcript

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Welcome And Playoff Focus Setup

SPEAKER_00 0:00

What's up everybody? It's your favorite show's favorite show Get a Bucket. I'm your host, Trey and as usual. Hope you're all having a wonderful, wonderful day. Today we're going to talk about the WNBA playoff, player focus. But before we do that, please make sure to hit that like and subscribe button, comment, tell anyone who's in one about the show. Trying to get the ratings up a little bit, you know, just a little bit. And if you're wondering when you heard this before, that's because you've been listening with me Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. So I greatly appreciate your support. Now, told y'all we're going to talk about the WNBA players to focus on during the playoffs. Now keep in mind, I can add a little bit more to these titles, to these lists, all right? I could add a couple more athletes, but I'm going to try to keep it at 20. If you catch me trying to throw a couple extra names in there, I apologize in advance. But these are some players that you should definitely put some eyes on and watch. Okay, because they're pretty spectacular. So with that being said, let's go ahead and get it off and popping.

The Big Three Worth Your Time

SPEAKER_00 0:47

Got to bring up the big three. Asia Wilson, right, Nafisa Collier, Brandon Stewart. These are the top three players in the WNBA, ladies and gentlemen. If you don't watch them, then you're shortchanging yourself. Just off top. Just off top. Like if you don't want to watch greatness, which that's what these ladies are, great. Like when we're talking about Hall of Fame players, they'll be there. So again, you may want to put some eyes on. After that, let's kind of go down the list and talk about it, right? And I again, I'm going to try to say 20. I may keep 20. I may do 21, maybe 25. I don't know. I'm going to try to do 20. So right now we're at tree. Okay. We already done three of them things.

Angel Reese Under New Pressure

SPEAKER_00 1:26

I'm going to throw Angel Reese up here. Okay. I think she has a lot of pressure on her actually this season specifically. Because she made a trade demand from Chicago. Remember, Chicago actually drafted her, but she's now on the dream. And you got to put a little pressure on Angel. Because when you make that statement, hey bro, like Chicago not really doing what I need them to do. That's saying that you believe that you're a champion. And so you expect to win a championship and you playing alongside Ryan Howard, Alicia Gray, Jordan Canada, Nas Hillman, like Brianna Jones off the bench. Yo, that's a solid squad. You're in a position to do so. So again, you may want to put eyes on Angel Reese. And she's also had a breakout season this year, too. Like breaking records in double doubles yet again. You know what I'm saying? Like she's continuing to not be an eyesore in the WNBA, despite what some of these stands and fans say. So again, you may want to pay attention to Angel Reese.

Health And Defense Swing Players

SPEAKER_00 2:25

Satu Sabali, I wanted to put her here. If she plays. No, if she plays. She's been missing. Like she's missing the FIBA games, to be clear. She's missing it for her own country. So that might be telling. Maybe she won't be playing. And she's had the concussion history, right? Like we get it. So she might not be playing. But if she does play, you may want to watch Apasatu on the Liberty. Because if she does play and she's healthy, I think that bolts the Liberty back up into the status of maybe even being the best team. But we're going to have to wait to see because if she plays. But outside of that, I would say look at someone like a Natasha Howard. Because when we're talking about roles on their team, she would be a similar role. Player who can get a bucket, but also looked at as a player who can defend pretty damn well too. So again, you got to pay attention to Natasha Howard on the links, doing a good job. I think you got to put eyes on them. Depoy candidate, at least 15 to 17 in points a game. Like, bro, she's smooth. So if you don't want to watch greatness, then don't watch Natasha Howard. But on both sides of the ball on the floor, she competes. So that's why I'm putting eyes on Natasha Howard and Satu Sabali in the playoffs. I'm going to combine them as two, as one person, though. Because again, Satu not really playing. So I'm just wanting to give us a little love. But Tosh, definitely, you want to say something. You know what I'm saying? You want to give her some eyes. Well, good, Tosh. How well

Kelsey Mitchell And Elite Scoring

SPEAKER_00 3:48

is well, right? Kelsey Mitchell, another player. She's been averaging, what, she's a second leading scorer. She's given about 25 a night. She's had at least 23 games in a row, but she scored at least 20 points a game. That's WNBA record. Ladies and gentlemen, she's an MVB candidate. If you want to see somebody get a bucket, you need to see Kelsey Mitchell. She's spectacular. She's almost averaging 25 points too on 50, 40, 90 splits. That's disgusting work. That's professionalism to its core. I'm just saying. So again, if you like watching basketball, but specifically people putting the ball in the basket, you need to put eyes on Kelsey Mitchell because she can do that quite

Paige Beckers And Olivia Miles Debuts

SPEAKER_00 4:26

well. Another person we got to talk about, Paige Beckers. Now, this will be her first playoff. So for me, I'm really excited, waiting to see how she performs in the playoff regular season. It's different than playoffs. She's also an MVP candidate. And when we're talking about getting a bucket, ladies and gentlemen, she's leading the league as a sophomore in the WNBA second year. She's leading the league in fourth quarter scoring. So when we talk about clutch buckets, hell, if she, if the, if the game close, ball needs to go to her. Because she's it's clear she can get a bucket. She's averaging 21, 20, she's averaging 20 to 21 points a game, like six assists, two turnovers, good decision making on close to 50, 40, 90 splits. Also, quite a hooper. So I gotta put eyes on Paige Beckers. Paige McBuckets, as they call her. Another point guard to keep in mind, too, Olivia Miles. This will be her first playoffs. And she's also an MVP candidate. Deja vu, right? Because I just said the same thing about Paige Beckers. Only difference is Olivia did go to a better team. So we we we I do want to see how she performs in the playoffs when people are putting more eyes on you, more focus on you. And I'm gonna be honest with you, I think she's gonna do all right. But I want to see how she performs in her first playoffs. That's gonna be exciting to watch. It's gonna be phenomenal. Does she remain looking like the engine for the Lynx? Let's wait and see. But you got you gotta put eyes on Olivia Miles. She's one of the best guards in the WNBA. And I'm not just talking about young guards, I'm talking about best guards. Like when I think of best guards in the WNBA, Chelsea Gray, Paige Beckers, Olivia Miles. Those are my three right now, point in time. Maybe I gotta sleep on a little more to think about it. But yeah, those are my three right now. So you got to put eyes on these on these young ladies for sure.

Caitlin Clark And The Winner Talk

SPEAKER_00 6:11

Another person we got to bring all, and I know people have been wondering why you ain't mentioned her yet, Caitlin Clark. One, I ain't gonna bring her up first because I know y'all stands and fans really love her and admire her, but y'all overestimate her sometimes too. But you gotta put eyes on her for sure. I'm talking about to the stands, the fans, the analysts, and for the haters. You got to put eyes on her because she is a spectacular player now. All right, if you just focus in on points and assists, you may think she's the best thing since the sliced bread. But her impact on the team conversation starts this year. Remember, last year, they actually gave the Aces a run for their money. Took them five games, if I'm not mistaken. That was the furthest the Aces went. And they and again, the Aces are defending champions. So there's an argument to be made that the fever could have been champions last year if they had beaten the Aces. And that was without Caitlin Clark, by the way. So her impact on the team starts this season because guess what? You got playoffs. She'll be playing. If they lose early, I can hear the narrative. Oh, well, you know, Caitlin not a winner, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So we want to see how she does this playoffs. It'll be interesting, should be exciting. Also, should help out with some storylines going forward. But again, you got to put eyes on Caitlin Clark in the postseason.

Mystics Spotlight Shakira Austin

SPEAKER_00 7:25

Next, we're going to bring up Shakira Alston. I think she has a chip on her shoulder, right? Off the Mystics. Because she missed the all-star. She didn't get an all-star nod, right? And I personally thought she got snubbed. Personally. Okay. And keep in mind, too, she just had a three-year contract extension. I'm not, if I'm not mistaken. You got to see what she looked like. Regular season, she looked like the most improved player. She looks like the D-poy. You know what I'm saying? She you could arguably make that she's the best player on the damn team. It's a little bit different between regular season and playoffs. So again, I'm curious what Shakira Alston finna look like come playoff time. And she's been injured too in her in her past. So yeah, in a different role. I can't wait to see what she looks like personally.

Liberty Perimeter Defense With Fiebich

SPEAKER_00 8:10

Next, we got to look at Leone Phoebish. And this is the reason why. Her impact on the team, ladies and gentlemen, for the Liberty, they have been slacking when it comes to defense, especially on the perimeter, right? Well, Leone Phoebus can literally guard one through five. So when she guards these guards, like when she was playing against Caitlin Clark and then she held Caitlin like to one of seven or two of seven when she was guarding her. That's important. That's quite imperative. Because again, losing Najee Laney Hamilton, right? Not having Satu Sabali there. It's looking a little tricky. Rebecca Gardner, cool, but I think the best defender on their team is Leone Phoebe hands down. So that impact on the team is going to be missed. And luckily she's back. And I think people need to pay attention to Leone Phoebe. Does she continue to shoot the ball extremely efficiently and also guard the best players? Because if so, we may need to talk about her again as a top duo on the Liberty. Brianna Stewart and Leone Phoebe. Maybe that's the real duo. Let's figure it out. But again, you got to put eyes on Leone Phoebe.

Dream Stars Need Consistency

SPEAKER_00 9:11

Next, I'm going to combine these two because they're on the same squad and they have damn near a similar role. Ryan Howard and Alicia Gray off the dream. I talked about Angel Reese earlier, so y'all heard me kind of mention them a little bit. Ladies and gentlemen, these two women have been inconsistent. Does their inconsistency persist in the playoffs? It's been happening in the regular season. That's for damn certain. And like this, they're partly the reason why I say the dream and the mer and the mystics are the two most inconsistent teams in the WNBA. But the Mystics are with youth. The dream is because of their stars. And sometimes that's a little troubling. Personally, I think they have the talent to be contenders. But these two women need to be able to get a bucket and defend consistently, competently, efficiently, whatever you need to say, they need to do it pretty soon. Because they're going to go up against some teams that could that could beat them in the first round. So they need to show up and show out, or else they're going to get shipped out. And I ain't just talking about this season. You may have maybe two more seasons left with this roster before you guys start thinking about the stars leaving, like Alicia Gray or Ryan Howard. I've talked about this before with one of my boys on the show. I'm going to keep saying it. Y'all may want to make sure that y'all are doing y'all's job. All right. But during the regular season, y'all have been. It's just been a little too inconsistent. So again, pay attention to these ladies. If they're not inconsistent, you may be talking about them consistently in the finals. That's all I'm saying, bro. Like they that good. All right. But now let's move it on down.

Liberty Stars Chasing Legacy

SPEAKER_00 10:46

Because we got to talk about next, Sabrina Ianescu. Okay. Can she emerge as a top guard in the WNBA? Remember, I told y'all my point guards, right? I said Chelsea Gray, Paige Beckers, Olivia Miles. You want to throw Caitlin Clark in there? Sure. But like that's my personal big three. The women that I listed off, right? Sabrina Inescu kind of on the outside looking in. Now we could talk about this year because she came back from injury early on, right? Missed look, missed a couple times, missed some time. Looked like she's a little rusty. Heard you. This playoffs, she could try to get her way back to being in that top three for me. Like she could try to nudge out Paige or Chelsea or Olivia. With Chelsea, it'd be because of age. But with Paige and Olivia, you just got to show that you're better than them. And I haven't seen that definitively this year. So again, ladies and gentlemen, I'm looking for Sabrina Ionescu on this Liberty team to show up. Because she is a champion, right? But it also sometimes feels like it was lucky for her to get a championship. If I'm just being honest, if I'm just being completely honest. So if she could ever win a finals MVP or really dominate in the postseason and showcase that she's better than these young guns that are coming up or the old heads that are still there and present and getting a bucket and hooping, that'll be great. So that's what I'm looking forward to seeing from Sabrina Ionescu. But we got to wait to see. Because again, playoffs is different than regular season. Regular season she has not looked at, she has not been looked at as the best by me personally. Now, next we're gonna talk about Jackie Young. I think Jackie has an opportunity to cement herself as top five in the WNBA. I think she's already there, if I'm being honest with you. I mean, hell, she playmakes just like a guard, like people rave about Caitlin Clark and Paige Beckers and Olivia Miles. Jackie does very similar work and has low turnovers too, and does better defense than all of them and scores at a similarish clip. Like 17, 18 points a game. That's pretty damn good. So again, when I'm looking at Jackie, if you don't have her as your top five, this postseason might be able to help cement her as a top five player in the WNBA. But she's the MVP caliber player, all at all WNBA caliber player. This is more so for the casual fans, but you need to put eyes on Jackie Young because she's that good, bro. She's that smooth. Remember in the Commissioner Cup game, she dropped about 30 points, 35 points, maybe, and they had a chance at beating the Liberty. And that was without Asia Wilson. So she's a star. It just so happens she's playing with arguably one of the GOATs in the WNBA history. But you want to put eyes on Jackie Young because she's special. And and and John Quell Jones, too, while I got it on my mind. I don't know, it's something about the Jays. But look, could she be viewed as a top big in the WNBA? She still probably is. Could she ever be viewed as the best big in the game? I don't know about that. But what happens if we start dominating and she wins another championship and she wins another finals MVP, ladies and gentlemen? We got to talk about now two finals MVPs, two championships, an all-star MVP, a league MVP. Like, bro, she's pretty. Hey, that that you know what I'm saying? That could be a little interesting. So you gotta put eyes on John Quell Jones because she has the talent to be dominant, she has the size to be dominant, and she has the skill to be dominant. The team that she's on, it makes it a little tough for her to be dominant. But at the same breath, she could be dominant still on the team because of who you have on it. Sabrina, Stewie, Leone, like Marine Johanna. You got a bunch of shooters around you. So it's not like you can't go womano e womano. I was gonna say monoe mono, but it's not like you're gonna have an isolation moment. So I need for John Queel Jones to dominate, but she has the talent to be able to do so. So I need y'all to lock in on JJ. Dynomite. If you know, you know.

Aces And Fever X Factors

SPEAKER_00 14:44

Next, we gotta talk about Aaliy Balston. I've talked about her running mates before in Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark. Aaliyah Balston is probably the second best player on the team following Kelsey Mitchell. Like Kelsey Mitchell number one, Leah Boston number two, Caitlin Clark's number three. Could she submit her status as number two on this team? I think she could with her play. On both sides of the court, by the way. You got to factor that in. A lot of times people just focus on offense, but it's really offense and defense that you need to focus on for sure. She can score and get a bucket. She can rebound, she can defend, she can playmate. There's very little that she can do. Angie Lee was stretching the floor out to shoot the three-ball. I'm just saying, ladies and gentlemen, Aaliyah Boston, you need to put eyes on her. Because not just could she be the number two player on her team, could she be the second best big in the game? I don't think she's better than Asia. Could she be better than John Clell Jones? Again, John Quel has been a little inconsistent. That's up for discussion. Like there are there's a case for Aaliyah to be to be number two if she's consistent. But we got to wait to see what happens with that. But y'all got to put eyes on Aaliyah Boston. Next up, ladies and gentlemen, Chelsea Gray. All right. We're at, I think about 18, 19, something like that. I don't know. Like 17, something like that, bro. Right? But Chelsea Gray is kind of smooth. Okay. Now she continues to defy the odds with that quote unquote old age convo. I put quote unquote because she's 33. Shit, I'm 34. If I'm if she's old, I'm old too, and I don't call myself old. But she continues to defy the odds. I told you, she's my best player. She's my best point guard in the WNBA. I'm talking about decision making, being able to score, being able to defend players. She can guard one through threes, maybe even some fours. I think height-wise, fives, you got to kick her out. But she's strong enough to battle against a lot of players. Decision making there, she's still a finals MVP, ladies and gentlemen. She's one of them ones. If you want to see history in the making, if you want to see brilliance, put eyes on Chelsea Gray. Especially if they don't have Nalissa Smith on the squad. They lost Kennedy Carter. That's a lot to replace, bro. Chelsea, we're gonna see you step. We gotta see you step up some. AJ, we know what she can do. Jackie, we know what she can do. We know what Chelsea Gray can do too now. Gotta see a little bit more from you, though. And in the postseason time, she does thrive. So again, that's when you really get to see the best of Chelsea Gray. So it's whether it's needed or whether it's just clockwork, you're gonna see better out of Chelsea Gray in the postseason. So put eyes on her for sure. Now we gotta bring up comparison, we gotta combine both of these. Sonia Sitron and Kiki Erief, and ladies and gentlemen, I want to see how they do in the playoffs. I've talked about Shakira Olsen and what the expectations are her. I want to see what these two women do in the playoffs without their star. Like last season, I think they had Britney Sykes on the squad, and that helped them out. This season is not gonna be the same. They're the focus. How do they do? Because I think the Mystics have a positive outlook going forward. They're gonna have a bright future, especially with these three ladies, Sonia, Kiki, and Shakira. But again, I need to see how they perform. And I think they're gonna do well. But it's a different role for them. And they're young, too. This is the youngest team in the WMBA's history. So again, I want to see how they do come post season. Now,

Wings Breakouts And Arike Stakes

SPEAKER_00 18:10

one of the players that I possibly could have brought up first, because she's been playing that well, Jessica Shepard. Right? Like, I she probably gonna win the most improved player. It's between her and Shakira for me at this point in time. How does she do in the playoffs? Regular season, she's been snapping. She's been looking like DeMonta Sabonis or Nicola Jokic light. She just hasn't been as dominant offensively as Nicola Jokic has, but she kind of looked like Sabonis, bro. She's had about four triple doubles leading the league in double doubles, possibly, or it's either her or Angel who are leading the league in double doubles. I gotta double check that. But she's one of the leading rebounders in the WNBA, can still score about 15-16 a game. That's not bad. Does that translate to the playoffs too, though? If so, I think she's gonna be around on the wings for a little bit for sure. But if not, I don't know. I think they still keep her, but maybe not put as much focus going forward on Jessica. But she's been playing some good basketball. If it continues in the playoffs, I like what the wings are doing as time goes on. But eventually too, though, I do want to see what players like Arique do. Arique might be another name to throw up here too, ladies and gentlemen. Keep in mind, Arique has a lot to prove. Because if she's not hooping, especially with AZ Fud not returning back this season, I think she's not gonna be, I don't even think she's gonna be back for the playoffs. So if that's the case and Arique ain't hooping, she might be messing up her her her paycheck. Because what other team gonna want to take her? Because I think she's gonna be leaving the wings eventually. I don't think she fit the timeline for the wings properly, personally. So again, I may want to throw Arique on that squad too, but on this list too, but Jessica Shepard, definitely off the link, like off the wings for both of them. Definitely putting

Valkyries Contender Reality Check

SPEAKER_00 19:51

eyes on. And then finally, and this ain't even a player. I could list a player for sure, but there's too many players to list. Like I wanted to mention Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton, Janelle Salon, you know, Kia Stoke, like the Valkyries. That's why I listed it off as the Valkyries. Is their regular season matter? Like, is it legit? Are they gonna do the same thing in the regular season in the playoffs that they've done in the regular season? That's what I'm looking to see. If they do, kudos. Good job, excellent. If not, hmm. Maybe they're not contenders. And maybe they do need that extra building bot that I've been talking about, that extra star player on the offensive end. Maybe they do, in fact, need that. So that's what I'm looking to see from this regular season. They're going into the playoffs potentially as the second seed. But if they falter badly in that first round, that's gonna be a little tough to watch. Because again, I've been saying it's a hesitant, I'm hesitant to give them the contender status. They look good, though. I saw the play against the Lynx. They look good. If their offense is holding up the way they did against that second game in the Lynx, because they played them like back to back almost. So if they look, if it looks that way, oh, they scary as hell to play against. I don't want to play against them personally. But if it don't, it could be a quick postseason. So that's why I put the Valkyrie's team as a whole. I can talk about Gabby Williams, but I know what she's gonna do. You still want to put eyes on her for sure. Burton, good people's too. You want to put eyes on her for sure. Janelle Salon, same thing. He and so same thing. Like, you want to put eyes on the Valkyrie for sure. They're a good team.

Listener Picks And Closing

SPEAKER_00 21:30

But ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this does conclude my WNBA 2026 playoff player focus. So I'm curious, did I miss anybody for the playoff focus? Let me know. Do you think I shouldn't or do you think you shouldn't focus on some of these players? I want to know your reasons. I want to know your names and reasons why. But ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, that does conclude the end of the episode. So please make sure to like, subscribe, comment, tell anyone who's anyone. One, about the WNBA, because the playoffs are coming up late September. And two, about my show. My name is Trey. I'm the host of Get a Bucket. I hope you are all having a good one. Take care.